CHINA’S Olympic team defeated Botswana’s U23 side 2-0 on the opening day of the four-nation invitation tournament in Shenyang, Northeast China’s Liaoning Province, on Wednesday night.
Ratomir Djukovic’s team, humiliated by the African side in a 4-0 whitewash during its overseas training tour last month, created many opportunities but did not convert any of them into goals until the dying minutes of the first half.
With six minutes to go before the break, midfielder Shen Longyuan passed the ball to Zhao Xuri and the latter’s powerful drive from 30 meters out forced a corner for China after Botswana keeper Itumeleng Selapa flung himself to tip the ball past the post.
Chen Tao unleashed the corner, which was cleared by a Botswana defender, but Shen again picked up the loose ball and drove it in at a tight angle to make the breakthrough for China in the 40th minute.
After opening the scoring, the Shanghai Shenhua player chose a special way to celebrate his goal, running off the sideline to hug every Chinese coach and official on the bench.
The hosts’ second goal came with less than 15 minutes left when China forward Jiang Ning broke through on goal after being picked out by midfielder Zhou Haibin’s free kick and headed it to beat the rival goalie.
Without the injured Manchester United striker Dong Fangzhuo, Jiang led China’s attacks but the Qingdao Zhongneng player had little luck on the day, denied over and over again before scoring the 76th-minute goal.
In another match of the tournament Wednesday, Japan defeated South Korea 2-1. China faces Japan Friday night. (SD-Xinhua)